Ok, i've just got my head around DMX Lighting but here's a few questions that I need help


How do I tell a controller what channel controls what?

For example have two scans

Scanner 1.

Ch1. Pan
Ch2.Tilt
Ch3. Gobo/colour/Shutter

Scanner 2.

Ch1. Gobo/colour/shutter
Ch2. Tilt
ch3. Pan

as you can see the channels for the two scanners are different. how would I correct Scanner 2 to have the same channel order as scanner 1? would I have to switch dipswitches or have to tell a controller what channel does what?

if you see what I mean

many thanks,

Shaun

Okay first of all you need a controller capable of controlling more than one set of effects.

Your lighting appears to be 3 channel DMX, so i'll base the example on that fact.

First of all, each light has to be designated a DMX Address, each effect has to be assigned a unique channel number to tell it at the point in which it responds to the controller:-

Okay Effect number 1 - Lower "Dip Switch no 1" to the on position - keep the other switches in the off position. This assigns it as channel 1

Channel 1 of the controller will control Mirror Pan on scanner 1
Channel 2 of the controller will control Mirror Tilt on scanner 1
Channel 3 of the controller will control G / C Wheel on scanner 1

Scanner Number 2:- Assign it to channel 4 using the dip switches

Channel 4 of the controller will control mirror Pan on scanner 2
channel 5 of the controller will control mirror tilt on Scanner 2
channel 6 of the controller will control G/C Wheel on scanner 2

Scanner Number 3:- Assign it to channel 7 using the dip switches

Channel 7 of the controller will control mirror pan on scanner 3
Channel 8 of the controller will control mirror tilt on scanner 3
Channel 9 of the conftroller will control G/C Wheel on scanner 3

You should by now see a pattern forming on how the DMX system works. Of course you need a DMX controller with enough channels to service the number of individually controlled channels required by the lights. For instance (4x) 3 channel DMX Fittings will require a controller with 12 DMX channels..... (4x) 4 Channel DMX Fittings will require a controller with 16 DMX channels etc etc.

Many thanks Chris for that.


I understand the channels and stuff now but do you know of a universal controller that will control my effects. I've got Datamoon, twister 4 and EVL moving spots. So I need a controller which will be able to control six channel moving spot. and the rest of the effects in the 518 channel chain


Been looking at the new Ryger Navigator and the Martin Freekie controller but a bit expensive. They have a 'personality feature' where you can tell the controller what channel does what to each effect.

So for an example:

Moving head is six channel so you have to program the controller what channel does what.
Twister 4 has different channel allocation so you have to tell the controller what channel does what

So now I covered 8 channels of the 512 available.

There are so many controller out there mainly four channel things that can control 6789.and so of many heads but there is no way to tell the controller what channel does what you see what I mean. You cant have a twister 4 and a 4 channel scan light connected to it as you could end up with channel 1 being pan and channel 1 of twister being colour/gobo so I need a universal controller for scans.

A lil hard to explain